Reality checker wrote:
But what is the definition of pacing? Suppose I'm about to be lapped, and the thought of this motivates me to pick up my pace and stay ahead of the leaders? Would anyone who ran behind me be dq'd? If so, why nt use this strategy against the Kenyans.
Yes, DQs are possible (including you). If you are about to be lapped, then you should not interfere or interact in any way with the leaders. Depending on the situation, you either swing wide if you can see you won't cut anyone off and let them pass on the inside, or keep your line and allow them to pass you.
If you have slowed down so much that you are being lapped (even in a 10,000), then there should be no justifiable capability to pick up the pace to match that of the leaders. Doing so would lead any reasonable observer to conclude you had been dogging it and were now pacing, in contravention of the rules.
For the other poster who recalls something from the Olympics, in 1992, Skah was dueling with Richard Chelimo as they were about to lap Hammou Boutayeb (also from Morocco). Boutayeb sped up to match their pace for a stretch.
Skah ended up outkicking Chelimo for the win but was initially DQ'd due to pacing from his countryman. This was overturned after a couple of days when Skah was able to demonstrate he wasn't being paced and was even telling Boutayeb to get out of the way.